Both the UNC men’s and women’s tennis teams won their respective ITA Kickoff events in Chapel Hill over the weekend, meaning both have earned a spot at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in February.

The women’s team, still undefeated on the season and ranked No. 2 in the ITA poll, easily defeated Maryland on Friday and Charlotte on Saturday to clinch its spot in the championships, which will be held in Seattle. Against the Terrapins, a 6-4 victory in doubles from the top-ranked team of Fiona Crawley and Carson Tanguilig helped Carolina clinch the doubles point. The Tar Heels were just as dominant in singles, with Crawley, Elizabeth Scotty and Reilly Tran each winning in straight sets to clinch the 4-0 win. For Crawley, it was the 100th singles win of her career.

Against Charlotte the next day, UNC once again won the doubles point easily and then cruised in singles. Freshman Reese Brantmeier won in straight sets, as did Scotty and Tran to clinch another 4-0 win. Crawley was well on her way to another singles victory before her match was stopped.

The wins were the 69th and 70th consecutive at home for the Tar Heels, a streak which dates all the way back to March of 2018. UNC will enter February’s ITA championships as the three-time defending champion and winners of six of the last 10. First, though, the Tar Heels will welcome No. 6 Georgia to Chapel Hill on February 1 at 5 p.m.

On the men’s side, Carolina defeated Oklahoma State and No. 13 Harvard to clinch its spot in the championships, which will be played in Chicago. Against the Cowboys on Saturday, Carolina won the doubles point and used straight set wins in singles from Ryan Seggerman, Will Jansen and Chris Li to clinch the win. Seggerman is currently ranked No. 9 in singles.

Carolina then bested the No. 13 Crimson in a spirited match on Sunday, using another strong performance in doubles to start the match off on the right foot. Li took another straight sets victory for Carolina, as did Will Jansen. Jansen’s win answered the only Crimson win of the day and put UNC on the brink of victory. Anuj Watane then sealed the deal, coming back from a first-set loss to win 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 and send the Tar Heels to the Windy City.

The win is Carolina’s first against a ranked opponent this season. UNC will now appear in the ITA championships for the first time since winning the title in 2021. The Tar Heels also won in 2016.

UNC has three matches at home before then, against Illinois on February 4, No. 3 TCU on February 5 and Elon on February 12.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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